Latest news with #Engelbrecht-Bresges
South China Morning Post
27-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Record tourist numbers flock to Champions Day, but star filly's death mutes celebrations
Punters cheer the start of the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Photos: Kenneth Chan A record number of tourists flocked to Sha Tin for FWD Champions Day on Sunday, with Jockey Club chief Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges hailing the event a success despite the death of superstar Japanese filly Liberty Island. Crowd numbers were up 37.5 per cent year on year, the club said. Fans, meanwhile, wagered north of HK$1.5 billion, which was 3.34 per cent down on 12 months ago, a dip the CEO attributed somewhat to the absence of local star Romantic Warrior. And while the club celebrated following such a big event, they were muted after Liberty Island broke down in the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m). The five-year-old suffered a leg injury in the feature and had to be euthanised. 'We normally celebrate with champagne but I feel today in honour of the tremendous filly that this is not the right thing to do. I'm really sad about that but unfortunately this is part of racing,' Engelbrecht-Bresges said. 'I want to really honour a filly like Liberty Island, who was one of the great race fillies.' Among a bustling crowd of 41,943 at Sha Tin were nearly 10,000 tourists, with the club's collaboration with the China Travel Service and a pilot of a soon-to-be-launched tour initiative for high-end visitors contributing to the numbers. There was also a 12-strong group from Australia travelling with Ontrack Racing Tours, with the Jockey Club estimating each person would inject HK$70,000 into the Hong Kong economy. 'We had a record for Champions Day of 8,244 mainland visitors and we had nearly 1,100 overseas visitors coming,' Engelbrecht-Bresges said, adding there had been a 'targeted test where we had 200 high-net-worth people from Japan'. Engelbrecht-Bresges said while the tests were 'not the full monty', the club hoped to roll the initiative out in collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board in the next few weeks. 'Then we have the collaboration with the China Travel Group, who were responsible for a lot of people here today, and that will go even further,' the CEO said. Engelbrecht-Bresges was full of praise for the HKJC team's 'terrific effort to put a marvellous event on' even without Romantic Warrior running in the QE II Cup, which he said was a difference of around HK$40 million in betting terms. 'I think today's race meeting had a tremendous atmosphere and we saw tremendous performances on the track,' Engelbrecht-Bresges said. 'The feedback we got from everybody was that this was a really successful meeting. We dialled up the entertainment and it was a tremendous atmosphere.' HE DOES IT AGAIN! 🚀 Ka Ying Rising makes it 12 straight wins, four Group 1s and a HK$5 million Speed Series bonus with victory in the 2025 Chairman's Sprint Prize... @zpurton #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025 On the track, Ka Ying Rising was the star attraction with his victory in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m), while rank outsider Red Lion also did the locals proud in the Group One Champions Mile and Tastiera flew the flag for Japan by taking out the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m). 'Today there was one performance which was completely dominant and we are very glad we have, I would humbly say, by far the best sprinter in the world. He showed how good he is and that created a tremendous atmosphere,' Engelbrecht-Bresges said of Ka Ying Rising. 'We feel that Hong Kong racing is going, despite significant geopolitical and economic issues, from strength to strength. 'We look forward to even more horses coming to Hong Kong to make this day even bigger than it is currently, even if I would say it is the biggest [Champions Day] that we have had for a long period of time and we see it as a success.'
South China Morning Post
03-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Jockey Club may consider buying The Everest slot, while Team Romantic Warrior nears final hurdle
The Hong Kong Jockey Club would consider buying a slot in The Everest should the terms be favourable, chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has confirmed. Speaking after The Everest favourite Ka Ying Rising's Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m) demolition job at Sha Tin last Sunday, Engelbrecht-Bresges did not rule out the possibility of the world's best sprinter representing the Jockey Club in the world's richest turf race. 'I think one has to see what the financial incentive is if we work with [the Australian Turf Club]. I think it's something we can consider,' said Engelbrecht-Bresges. 'But, it cannot be only a slot in The Everest. It has to be something which benefits us. Having a slot in The Everest would benefit the owner but not necessarily us.' UNSTOPPABLE! 🤯 11 straight wins for world's best sprinter Ka Ying Rising as David Hayes' star is an emphatic G2 Sprint Cup winner at Sha Tin... @zpurton #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 30, 2025 There is likely to be a spot available for this October's A$20 million (HK$98.5 million) The Everest, with reports on Wednesday suggesting Star Entertainment will relinquish its A$700,000 slot. Ka Ying Rising's trainer, David Hayes, said in February that 'going forward I think Hong Kong sprinters will target The Everest because it's a logical race for them'. For Engelbrecht-Bresges, increased Australian participation in Hong Kong's flagship meetings – the Hong Kong International Races in December and April's Champions Day – would be a key pillar of any negotiations. 'In general, we discuss with multiple partners how we can create more international events,' said Engelbrecht-Bresges. 'If you could create links between a certain event in Australia and events here, then I think we could develop an ecosystem. 'I am optimistic that probably in the next six or seven weeks we will have a clear path around how we can globally work more strongly together, especially with Australia because Australian sprinters are a must [in Hong Kong's big races].' Hayes has long said he'll wait until after Ka Ying Rising's final run of the season before he gets serious about slot negotiations, with the world's best sprinter set to conclude his 2024-25 campaign in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) on April 27. Team Romantic Warrior nears final hurdle Romantic Warrior has hardly put a foot wrong during one of the most audacious overseas raids ever launched by Hong Kong connections, and with him every step of the way have been a group of Danny Shum Chap-shing's staff who wouldn't have missed it for the world. While many people have chipped in during the journey, which began in December, mafoo Chan Chung-yin and work riders Gary Lau Ka-tai and Andy Luk Wai-hin have been the mainstays. Some of Shum's staff have been on the road for nearly four months and they have ridden every bump of a journey that saw a blistering victory in January's Group One Jebel Hatta (1,800m) and a heartbreaking second in February's Group One Saudi Cup (1,800m) on the dirt. Victory in Saturday's Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) would provide the ultimate end to Romantic Warrior's Middle Eastern mission. 'They're all happy. They're looking forward to Saturday, then after two weeks quarantine they're looking forward to going back to Hong Kong,' said Shum. 'They've done a great job. As you can imagine, four months away from home is a big challenge for them. But it's a great experience.' The enormity of the efforts of the travelling brigade is not lost on jockey James McDonald, who has jetted in and out from Australia to partner Romantic Warrior. 'We can't thank them enough for the work they've put into this horse and they've left no stone unturned,' said the Kiwi. 'This is the last race of this little journey and hopefully all goes well.'
South China Morning Post
31-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Jockey Club hopeful Happy Valley races can compliment Hong Kong Sevens week in 2026
Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges was 'cautiously optimistic' the Jockey Club could broker a deal with the Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC) to hold racing at Happy Valley during next year's Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens week. Long one of the real head scratchers of one of the city's biggest weeks, the regular 'Happy Wednesday' party is replaced by a soulless Sha Tin dirt meeting while the HKFC Tradition 10s takes place in the Happy Valley infield. While a few tourists trudged out to Sha Tin last Wednesday, many were left disappointed they could not take in one of Hong Kong's most popular attractions while in town for the rugby. At a time when the Hong Kong government is all in on horse racing tourism – Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui told the Post last week the city was using it to attract high-spending visitors – it seems a no-brainer that officials work together to ensure the Happy Valley races can compliment the 10s and Hong Kong Sevens week. 'The hope next year is that we can make a real racing tourism attraction around the rugby with racing on the Wednesday, hopefully, in the Valley,' said Engelbrecht-Bresges, adding that one of his reasons for optimism was last year's appointment of former Hong Kong China Rugby CEO, Robbie McRobbie, as the Jockey Club's executive manager of charities (sports). 'We have tried this for I don't know how many years but I am a little bit more optimistic that next year maybe it can happen. That would be perfect,' Engelbrecht-Bresges added. 'In the end, it's a decision of the Football Club. They have the right to hold the 10s and if they say no, it's no. There's nothing we can do about it. 'We have made multiple attempts and I can understand they see certain financial [negatives]. I have a little more of an optimistic view that this could be resolved.' The HKFC's hold on that particular Wednesday night is part of a long-standing agreement dating back to when Happy Valley racecourse was expanded in the 1990s and the HKFC's facilities had to be completely rebuilt, with its pitches shifted into the middle of the racecourse. On a normal Wednesday night, the Happy Valley infield is cleared of all sporting activities at least half an hour before the first race. For the racing to take place on the Wednesday of the first day of the 2026 10s, the rugby would have to finish around 6pm – about three hours earlier than it did this year. 'I'm cautiously optimistic we can create a win-win situation and it would be good for Hong Kong,' Engelbrecht-Bresges said. 'It's not mission impossible, but one has to see if maybe one can create events for [the HKFC] in their facilities because probably they are afraid everyone goes over [to the races] and then their bars are empty. 'From our side there is flexibility because we don't have to race at that time at Sha Tin, but we have to submit the fixtures to get approval in April or May.' Engelbrecht-Bresges spent Saturday at the Sevens and was full of praise for Kai Tak Stadium. 'I think as a stadium, in principle, it's amazing. The atmosphere I saw was extremely good,' he said. 'I talked to a lot of international guests who were really complimentary. It gives Hong Kong a stage for international tourism and sports events which we didn't have before. It was fantastic.'
South China Morning Post
10-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong International Sale needs ‘holistic review of every element'
Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said he would order a 'holistic review of every element' of the Hong Kong International Sale (HKIS) after a string of disappointing results at Friday night's auction at Sha Tin. After six of the catalogue's 21 horses were withdrawn before the sale on veterinary advice, the average purchase price dropped 9 per cent year on year, and only five of the 15 lots to go through the ring fetched more than their presale cost, resulting in a loss of HK$8.82 million just on the gallopers sold. The total presale cost of the six late withdrawals came to HK$24 million, although the Jockey Club was expected to look to recoup some of its losses by selling some of the withdrawn lots by private tender. Those numbers came a year after the average purchase price dropped more than 30 per cent. 'It's simple – disappointing,' Engelbrecht-Bresges said when asked for his thoughts on a sale that has long been maligned for its lack of overall quality. 'I'm especially disappointed about the number of horses who had to be withdrawn. This is a number which, in my view, needs a complete review,' he added, confirming as many as 11 further horses were bought by the Jockey Club that did not even make it into the catalogue, meaning fewer than half the total purchases were sold on Friday. 'When you look statistically, you would have to expect that 25 per cent, maybe 30 per cent, will not make it. But we are way beyond that, so you have to factor in the whole chain – is it from the buying, do we always buy the right pedigrees, what is the preparation?' Engelbrecht-Bresges put a decline in interest from buyers down to a change in market conditions in Hong Kong. He pointed to the club's continued efforts to entice owners to buy Private Purchases (previously raced horses) by offering a bonus scheme which sees gallopers scoop as much as HK$3 million by winning at certain levels before they turn five. 'With the PP bonuses, some people say 'I would have bought at the auction before but I pay now maybe even HK$1 million more, I buy a PP and I get another HK$1.5 million',' he said. 'There was not enough depth because a lot of times there was not a really strong underbidder. So that is a demand issue besides a supply issue. 'We normally have a lot of mainland buyers. This year we had only one, so we have to look at everything. 'The market has changed and when the market changes, you have to see if what you do is still the right thing to do and you have to think how you put a value proposition there. 'So, it's one thing when you get the withdrawal of horses, which definitely makes it not very sustainable, but the other one is to step back and say how the market has changed. You need to make an analysis and see what you do.' The HKIS exists to offer Jockey Club members an alternative way to buy bloodstock, with gallopers sourced from 'many of the world's premier yearling sales and pre-trained in Australia and Great Britain before coming to Hong Kong'. The world's highest-earning racehorse, Romantic Warrior, is the sale's flag-bearer, although his owner, Peter Lau Pak-fai, was a notable absentee from the list of purchasers after being active at multiple recent sales. Telling was the fact one of this year's most prominent buyers was the Jockey Club itself, who snaffled two lots through its The Racing Club membership arm for HK$6 million. Group Three winner Patch Of Theta and Hong Kong Derby hopeful Markwin are other gallopers to come out of the HKIS in recent years. 'If you look at the overall picture, the sale is a tiny part of our business and what you want to achieve is a good service for owners and an experience for new owners – so that they're familiar with how we select horses with pedigree, so there is a certain educational part of this, too,' Engelbrecht-Bresges said. 'I still believe there are some really good horses in the sale.' An I Am Invincible gelding led the way on Friday night, fetching a bid of HK$5 million.
South China Morning Post
03-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Jockey Club lodges basketball betting proposal, while Vincent Ho faces ‘long recovery'
Chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges confirmed on Sunday night that the Jockey Club had lodged its basketball betting proposal with the Hong Kong government. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced in his budget speech last week that the government was considering legalising basketball betting, inviting racing officials to submit a proposal as they look to 'combat illegal betting activities in an effective manner'. 'The proposal is with them and we have to see how they want to progress it. It will be interesting,' said Engelbrecht-Bresges. 'Now, they lead and we only can follow because it's a policy decision. They asked us to give them a proposal and we did. 'It is good that it has been recognised that there is obviously a significant illegal gambling problem.' With illegal markets turning over between HK$70 billion (US$9.3 billion) and HK$90 billion on basketball last year, it is hoped the government could earn between HK$1.5 billion and HK$2 billion annually from legalised wagering on the sport, as it grapples with a fiscal deficit of HK$87.2 billion for the 2024-25 financial year. It has been suggested the Jockey Club could offer basketball betting as soon as September. Ho faces 'long recovery' as Purton eyes Derby Engelbrecht-Bresges has also provided an update on the sidelined Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, who continues his slow recovery from a head injury and minor shoulder and neck fractures suffered in a race fall on February 9. Ho posted a video of himself in the gym last week, saying he had started his 'rehab journey and will be taking it one step at a time'. 'I personally think it will be a long recovery after so many concussions. I talked to him last week and said 'take your time'. There is no rush,' Engelbrecht-Bresges said. Ho's most recent tumble was one of a string of bad falls endured by the superstar local jockey in recent years and there has been no suggestion yet whether he will be seen in the saddle again this season. Zac Purton, on the other hand, is confident he remains on track to ride on Hong Kong Derby Day on March 23 after breaking his left big toe in a separate fall on the same day Ho was injured. 'I see the specialist again tomorrow just for a check up to make sure everything is in order, which I don't see why it wouldn't be,' Purton said. 'Then I get the pins out next Monday, wait a couple of days for it to settle then we'll get back on with things. 'I think the Derby should be no problem. I've been going to the gym and the physio and it feels pretty good, so I can't see any reason I won't be back Derby Day. 'There's not much there [in the way of rides] so I could be back Derby Day but the way things are going I might be watching it from the room.' Positivity around HKIS A year after the Hong Kong International Sale (HKIS) saw its average purchase price drop by more than 30 per cent, there is some positivity from officials ahead of this year's auction at Sha Tin on Friday night. After a successful morning of breeze ups at Sha Tin on Saturday, 19 of the original 21 lots remain on track to be sold. 'We've had a really good RSVP rate and obviously wagering has seen a bit of an increase year on year, so it certainly feels like we're in a slightly better position than 12 months ago,' Danny Rolston, HKIS executive manager, said. 'Based on a few of those early runners that have come out of last year's sale, I think a few people have seen that they might have been a bit more of a value buy last year. The breeze ups were excellent and I think we're in good shape.' New Future Folks, Markwin and Perfect General are the gallopers from last year's sale to hit the winners' list and Rolston identified a couple of horses from this year's sale he likes the look of – a Toronado gelding out of a Pierro mare and a Lope De Vega chestnut. 'Lots 11 and 17 are a couple of horses that have taken the eye a fair bit,' he said. 'They're two of the horses we've liked all the way through and when it came to the breeze ups they showed up as well.'
